William Harland

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Seaman. Elizabeth (daughter of Phillip Seaman and Ann Langley) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Religion: The Church of England (Episcopalian)

Notes:

James Harland, Yeoman and member of the Episcopal Church, was born about the year 1625 in the "Bishoprick, nigh Durham, England" and is the earliest paternal ancestor known to the family in America bearing the name Harlan. He lived and died an Englishman, and was buried upon English soil, no one today knows where. Tradition says that the name of his father was William.

James was married according to the usages of the the Established Church. His children were baptized and recorded therein; and established by the fact that the earliest record we have of his son, George, is that he was "Baptise at the Monastery of Monkwearmouth in Oald England." We have no record giving the name of his wife and mother. So far as known, James Harland was the father of three sons.

Monkwearmouth Monastery was founded by Benedict Biscop in the year A.D. 672. It is situated in a town of the same name in the east division of Chester, County, Durham, and 1/2 mile north of Sunderland. It receives its name from name from its location near the mouth of the river Wear. Burned and plundered time and again, only the tower and some detached parts of the church remain. In 1790 the parish registers, with the exception of some of the late records, were destroyed by fire. [Resource: Alpheus H. Harlan, "History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family", (Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1988) pg. 1]

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: Church of England

Notes:

Thomas Harlan, Yeoman, Friend, born "Nigh Durham, in Bishoprick, England," where he remained until early manhood, when with his brothers and others he crossed over into Ireland and located in the Parish of Donnahlong, County, Down. It is supposed that he remained there during his life, and that he was buried in the burying grounds at Lurgan Meeting House, County, Armagh. He m. 2, 7, 1680, by ceremony of Friends at Lurgan Meeting, held then "at the house of Francis Robson," in the Parish of Sego, County, Armagh, Katherine Bullock (Friend), b.---, d. 3 mo.1690, County, Down, a daughter of George Bullock, of the Parish of Donnahlong. They were parents of one son Ananias, and of four daughters, Rebecca, Patience, Christian, and Katherine.

Thomas married second, 11, 8, 1702 Ailice ffoster, of "Lisnegarvy, at Richard Boyes house, Ballinderry Meeting, County, of Armagh. They were the parents of two sons, James and Thomas, and one daughter, Abigail.

The names of George Harland, Alphonsus Kirk, etc., are among the signers to Thomas Harland's first marriage certificate, but it seems that he did not venture to cast his lot in the new world. So far as we can learn he remained in Ireland; his descendants, some fifty years later, crossing into Pennsylvania, and settling in Chester County,. [Resource: Alpheus H. Harlan, "History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family", (Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1988]

Thomas married Katherine Bullock on 7 Feb 1680 in County Armagh, Ireland. Katherine was born in 1652 in Seagoe, County Armagh, Ireland; died on 3 May 1690 in Donnahlong, County Down, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Alice Foster on 8 Nov 1702 in County Armagh, Ireland. Alice was born in of Lisnegarvy; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Religion: Society of Friends (Quakers)
• Baptism: 11 Mar 1650, Durham, England; [11d 1st m 1650]; Address:
  Monkwearmouth
• Immigration: 1687, Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America
• Will: 1 Apr 1714, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; [21da 2mo 1714]
• Probate: 2 Oct 1714, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America

Notes:

George Harlan "Ye sone of James Harland of Monkwearmouth, was Baptised at the Monastery of Monkwearmouth in Oald England, ye 11th day of First Month 1650." As young men, in company with his brothers Michael and Thomas crossed into Ireland and located in the Parish of Donnahlong, County, Down. Marriage records indicate that all three sons of James Harland had become Quakers.

Most Harlans are descendants of two English brothers, George and Michael Harlan, who arrived in 1687 at New Castle, Delaware - then part of the colony of Pennsylvania - and of a third brother, Thomas, who never came to America but some of his sons arrived fifty years later. James Harland, son of William is the earliest paternal ancestor of the Harlans in America that we know much about. He was born near Durham, England, about 1625 and was the father of Thomas, George and Michael Harlan. His three sons were baptized in the Church of England, at the formerly Catholic monastery of Monkwearmouth near Durham.

A 16th-century religious revolution in the Christian Church, called the Reformation, caused Britain to be in constant religious conflict and resulted in the establishment of Protestant churches. As George and Michael were growing up in the mid 1600s, a radical religious movement swept over England led by the Reverend George Fox, known as the Society of Friends, more often called Quakers. These groups, stressed an individual approach to religion, strict discipline and the rejection of an authoritarian church, had no clergy, practiced freedom of worship and opposed all forms of violence including war and slavery. They refused to take oaths and would not pay tithes to the Church of England. Both the civil and religious authorities were perturbed and began to persecute the preacher and his followers.

George and Michael Harlan and their brother Thomas became Quakers, and were forced to flee England to northern Ireland where they located in the Parish of Donnahlong, County, Down, only to find that English persecution followed them there. While residing there he married by ceremony of Friends, November 27, 1678, Elizabeth Duck of County, Armagh. At the time of his residence in Ireland, William Penn was urging Friends of England to become settlers upon his new lands in America. He cautioned them against "leaving their own country out of idle curiosity or of a rambling disposition."

Members of the Society of Friends began to emigrate to the American colonies. They settled in New Jersey and the Pennsylvania colony, which was granted to William Penn and where they found a haven. In the early months of 1687, George in the company of his wife Elizabeth and four young children, Exekiel, Hannah, Moses and Aaron and brother Michael sailed from Belfast, Ireland to the new colony of Pennsylvania. After arriving in Delaware, they had five additional children, Rebecca, Deborah, James, Elizabeth and Joshua...all recorded as hvaing been born in New Castle County, Delaware. The first Friends meetings in Delaware were those located at New Castle and at Newark, both being established during the years 1682-85. The meeting at Newark was located about three miles northeast of present day Wilmington. Newark Friends generally lived along the little Shellpot Creek. Their leader was Valentine Hollingsworth.

Delaware was originally created as part of Pennsylvania and became the "Three Lower Counties". George Harlan had bought land in Pennsylvania (now Delaware) before leaving Ireland. They came up the river Delaware and landed at the town of New Castle, and settled near the present town of Centerville. He became one of the leading citizens, and in 1695 when William Penn decided that the "three lower counties," were so remote from Philadelphia that they needed their own government, he appointed George Harlan one of the governors. Soon, however, around 1698/99 George bought land higher up the Brandywine Creek and moved his family to what is now Pennsbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania and settled as a farmer near where his brother Michael had already settled.

George Harlan first belonged to Newark Meeting, but after his removal up the Brandywine and westward, he was too remote from this meeting for punctual attendance, especially in the winter, and at a request of himself and others, a meeting "beyond Brandywine" was established and called Centre Meeting House. In those early days, Newark, New Castle, Centre, and "Old" Kennet meetings were all part of Newark Monthly Meeting. The strongest meetings of this group came to be Centre and Kennet, and by 1720 the monthly meetings for business tended to alternate between these two places.

While living in Kennet township, George had for neighbors a settlement of Indians who lived in the "Great Bend" of the Brandywine. After they had gone he obtained, in 1701, a warrant for 200 acres of land in the bend, which was granted to him "in regard for the great trouble and charge he had borne in fencing and maintaining the same for said Indians while living thereon."

George was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1712, but died two years later, leaving nine children. His brother Michael, about ten years younger, married three years after reaching America. He was not as prominent as his brother, but his will and the inventory of his estate show him to have been a prosperous farmer. Michael died in 1729, leaving eight children. Many of his descendants moved to New York and then westward along the northern tier of states. Meanwhile their brother Thomas's descendants arrived in Pennsylvania from Ireland.

On the first day of March, 1713, George deeded 203 acres to his son-in-law, William Webb, for a consideration of 30 pounds. On the ninth day of the same Month, "in consideration of the Natural Affection & fatherly love which he hath" and also "for divers other good causes and valuable considerations," he deeded 200 acres each to his sons James and Joshua. He died in "Fifth Month" 1714. He left an estate valued at L355-12-00, exclusive of land, which was considerable for those days. It is puzzling that there is no mention of his land in either his will or his inventory.

After coming to America George and Michael dropped the final "d" and the name was spelled Harlan. The family's history includes two members of Congress, a U.S. Senator, a member of President Lincoln's cabinet, and two justices of the United States Supreme Court, the first Sheriff of Warren County, Ohio, a Warren County, Judge, and Warren County, Commissioner, among others.

WILL
I George Harlan of Brandywine Creek and in the Township of Kennet and County, of Chester in the province of Pennsylvania Yeoman. Being weak at this time in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory & calling to mind the certainty of Death & the uncertainty of the time thereof doe make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following, That is to say, ffirst I yield up my soul into the hands of almighty God as unto a ffaithful Creator hoping through the merrits sufferings Resurrection & mediation of my blessed Savior Jesus Christ to find mercy & forgivness with compleat salvation & my body to be buried by my deare wife in the new burying place on Alphonsus Kirks land at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named. Also my will is that all my Just debts & funeral Expenses be fully paid & discharged. Also I Give unto my son Aaron my Clock & my Great Brass Kettle. Also I Give unto my Brother Michael Harlan the young Susquhanna Mare. Also I Give unto my servant woman names Mary Mathews at the expiration of her time on cow & calf & one young mare not less than three yeares old. And lastly I make nominate & appoint my brother Michael Harlan aforementioned & my son Samuel Hollingsworth Trustees & assistants to my Executors aforementioned in the performance & Accomplishment of this my Last will & Testament. Also my will is that after my debts Legacies Bequests & expenses aforesaid are fully payed & satisfied that what shall then remain of my moveable & personal Estate if any so there be then it shall be equally divided between all my children Sons & Daughters share & share alike. In witness thereof I have to this my said will set my hand & seal this one & twentieth Day of the Second month call Aprill in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fourteen.
George Harlan (Seal)

Sealed signed & published & declared by Testator George Harlan to be his last will & Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereunto in his presence.
Daniel Mc Farson
Nathan Maddock
Thomas Pierson.

*(note: dates prior to 1751 are given "old style", counting March as the first month of the year)

George married Elizabeth Duck on 17 Nov 1678 in Parish of Shankill, County Armagh, Ireland. Elizabeth (daughter of Ezekiel Duck and Hannah Hoope) was born on 5 May 1660 in Parish of Shankill, County Armagh, Ireland; died before 1714 in Pennsbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; was buried in Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: Church of England
• Emigration: 1687, Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America
• Beneficiary: 21 Apr 1714; in the will of his brother, George Harlan

Notes:

"Yeoman, Friend, was born "Nigh Durham, in Bishoprick, England, about the year 1660," and in early life emigrated with his brothers into Ireland and settled with them in the County, of Down. Here he remained until 1687, when he accompanied his brother George to America. "And ye beginning of ye yeare 1690," Michael Harlan m. Dinah Dixon, "ye Daughter of Henry Dixon and settled first Neer ye Senter Meeting House." They afterward removed into London Grove Twp., where Michael d. "Fourth Month (June), 1729, and was bur. in Friends' Burying Grounds. His wife was doubtless bur. there also."

Michael married Dinah Dixon in Jan 1690 in New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America. Dinah was born about 1668 in Seagoe, County Armagh, Ireland; and died; was buried in London Grove Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Executor: 21 Apr 1714; sons Ezekial and Aaron Harlan were named as executors in will of their father, George Harlan

Notes:

Emigrated to America with his parents

Birth:
[16da 6mo 1679]

Ezekial married Mary Bezer in 1700 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial Ameirca. Mary was born on 10 Jul 1682 in Devizes, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire, England; died on 1 Sep 1702 in Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America; was buried in 1702. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ezekial married Ruth Buffington in 1705/6 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Ruth was born in 1679 in Great Marle, Buckinghamshire, England; died in Jan 1742 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; was buried in Jan 1744 in Kennett Square, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hannah married Samuel Hollingsworth in 1701 in New Castle, Delaware. Samuel (son of Valentine Hollingsworth and Ann Calvert) was born on 27 Mar 1673 in Ballyvickcrannel, County Armagh, Ireland; died in Nov 1748 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; was buried in Nov 1748 in Birmingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Death: 29 Mar 1749, Menallen Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

Notes:

The will of Moses Harlan of Menallen Township, in Lancaster County, dated 10, 10, 1747, and proven March 29, 1749, says in part:

My body to be decently buried by this my Deare and well beloved wife, and my son John Blackburn, whom I order and appoint my Executors.....To my grandson Jacob Cox, 200 acres of my real estate on the North side of Conewago Creek, he paying 5 pounds to each of his sisters now in being, and if he die with out issue, the lands to go to the next male heir of his mother Mary Cox; and male heirs failing, then to his sisters.

To grandsons, Thomas and Moses Blackburn, 100 acres on the South side of Conewago Creek. To grand daughter Dinah Cox, my young bay mare two years old. My wife Margaret Harlan, to hold the above lands in her possession till her decease, and all my worldly goods and chattles, now in my possession I leave to her disposing.
Moses Harlan (Seal)
Witnesses:
Rebecca Blackburn
John Blackburn
Charles Pidgeon
George Hodgson

Moses married Margaret Ray in 1712 in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. Margaret was born in 1691; died after 1747. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Emigration: 1687
• Beneficiary: 21 Apr 1714; in the will of his father, George Harlan
• Executor: 21 Apr 1714; sons Aaron and Exekial Harlan were named as executors in will of their father, George Harlan
• Will: 8 May 1732, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America
• Probate: 2 Oct 1732, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America

Notes:

Aaron Harlan, Yeoman, Friend, was born in the Parish of Donnahlong, County, Down, and Province of Ulster, Ireland. He was but two years of age when his parents reached the shores of the New World, and settled in the wilderness of the Colony of William Penn.

ABSTRACT OF WILL.....
Page 122
Aaron Harlan..........Kennet..................Yoeman
May 5, 1732...........Oct. 2, 1732..........A. 381
Provides for wife, not named. Inc. Real Est. until son George is 21. To son George when 21 my now dwelling place being the las part of my Tract of land on Brandywine. Cont. about 300 acres. To son Samuel when 21, the West part of said Tract as lately surveyed by Zachariah Butcher cont. 230 acres. to son Aaron, when 21, my Plantation in Kennet whereon my Father Law now lives. To son Jacob, when 21, an equal portion of my Est. as either of above named sons. To dau Charity, one gray filly. To daus Mary & Elizabeth L20 each, when 21. Lands to be valued & sons shares to be made equal. Extr - wife & friend Samuel Hollingsworth & Saml Pyle & Bro Joshua Harlan Trustees. Witnesses - Thomas Strode, Geor. Hollingsworth, Dinah x Heald [Source: Carmen J. Finley, "Hackney, Harlan & Heald - Our Quaker Ancestors", (Computer printed: C. J. Finley, Santa Rosa, CA, 1987), pg. 16]

Aaron married Sarah Heald on 2 Nov 1713 in New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America. Sarah (daughter of Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft) was born on 19 Jul 1692 in Mobberley, Cheshire, England; died on 6 Feb 1748 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; was buried in Feb 1747/8 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married William Webb on 22 Mar 1709 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. William died in 1753 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Deborah married Joshua Calvert in 1712 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Joshua was born on 18 Oct 1680; died in 1743. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From minutes of Center Monthly Meeting on 1/2/1717: "Whereas complaint having been made concerning Jeames Harlan takeing a wife contrary to the good order established amongst Friends, and hath been labored with from time to time to bring him to a sense of his wekness in so doing, but he yett seams to be insensable thereof, Wherefore the meeting appoints Robert Johnson and Gayen Miller to speak to him & desires him at our next monthly meeting to see if he will condem the said action and that he give an account to the next meeting alsoe."

"To the Monthly Meeting held at Senter this 4th day of of 3rd Month 1717, Whereas I Jeames Harlan have sometime agoe Married a wife from amongst Friends Contrary to the good order established amongst them which proceedings I am right sorry for and give this as a Testimony against myself for said disorderly doings." was signed by him.
They were given 200 acres by deed by his father on 3/6/1713 in Chester Co. and remained there until 5 children were born. In 1727 they moved to 500 acres in Nantmeal Twp. [Source: Brøderbund WFT Vol. 28 Tree #0285]

James married Elizabeth _____ in 1716 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Elizabeth was born on 9 Oct 1694 in New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America; died after 1760. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Joseph Robinson on 12 Nov 1712 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Joseph was born in 1677; died before 1754; was buried in Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Witness: 30 Mar 1736; the will of his father-in-law, Samuel Heald

Notes:

Witness in the Will of Samuel Heald as Jos'a Harlan.

Settled on 200 acres on Brandywine given him by his father. Remained there during his life. Left estate valued at L537, 04s, 8d.

Joshua married Mary Heald on 17 Mar 1719 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Mary (daughter of Samuel Heald and Mary Bancroft) was born on 15 Dec 1697 in Adswood, Cheshire, England; and died; was buried in Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary Stewart. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Richard Flower. Richard and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Mary Carter in 1720. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hannah Carter. Hannah and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hannah Maris. Hannah was born on 8 Aug 1702; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Misc: was unmarried

James married Susanna Oborn on 19 Oct 1733. Susanna and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Dinah married Thomas Gregg on 2 Oct 1729 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. Thomas was born in 1701 in New Castle County, Delaware, British Colonial America; died on 1 Sep 1748 in Kennett Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]